32 FISHES OF ILLINOIS 



This voracious, active, and well-protected fish is a notable 

 winner in the long struggle for existence which its species has 

 maintained, but it is a wholly worthless and destructive nuisance 

 in its relations to mankind. It is the enemy of practically all 

 the other fishes in our waters, and so far as it eats anything but 

 fishes, it subtracts from the food supply of the more valuable 

 kinds. It has, in fact, all the vices and none of the virtues of a 

 predaceous fish. On the other hand, it is preyed upon by nothing 

 that swims, and is so well adapted to the varied features and 

 vicissitudes of its habitat that it is proof against any but the 

 most extraordinary occurrences. 



From its long cylindrical shape and its activity when 

 alarmed, it is not as likely to be held by the fishermen's nets as 

 most other fishes of its weight, and it consequently survives on 

 our fishing grounds in very disproportionate numbers, and 

 diminishes their average productiveness in no small degree. 



It is distributed throughout the Mississippi Valley and 

 Great Lake region and southward into Texas and Mexico. It 

 is abundant also along the Atlantic slope as far north as New 

 Jersey. It is scarce in the smaller streams and is generally more 

 abundant southward. It grows to a length of five or six feet, 

 and is so variable in form and color that local differences have 

 given rise to a considerable number of scientific synonyms. In 

 Illinois it is abundant and widely distributed, occurring in all 

 parts of the state, including Lake Michigan. Our 35 collections 

 were made from 14 localities, from Cairo to Chicago and the 

 Rock River valley. It was taken in 9 of our collections from 

 large rivers; in 2 of those from small rivers; in 4 from creeks; 

 and in 15 from lakes, ponds, and sloughs. 



The long-nosed gar frequents quiet waters, being especially 

 abundant in those more or less stagnant. It occurs on both 

 muddy and sandy bottoms, but has an apparent liking for logs 

 and piles of brush. Although never moving together in schools, 

 gars tend to assemble in large numbers within limited areas. In 

 winter they frequently become so benumbed as to be almost in- 

 sensible to their surroundings. They are of a sleepy habit and 

 often lie motionless for a long time, returning persistently to the 

 same place when disturbed. They frequently come to the sur- 

 face, and thrusting their bills out of the water, open and close 

 their jaws with a snap. This is the act of " breaking " so familiar 

 to all fishermen, its purpose being to renew the air in the cellular 

 swim-bladder. In "breaking" the gar turns partly over on 



